System for charging carbon dioxide



y 2, 1939- H. B. RUDD 2,157,019

SYSTEM FOR CHARGING CARBON DIOXIDE Original Filed June 27, 1933 IN VEN TOR.

Harry B. Rudd I -2- )(Qa/Q ATTO NEYS.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES SYSTEM FOR CHARGING CARBON DIOXIDE Harry B. Rudd, Flushing, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1933, Serial No. 677,792 Renewed October 30, 1935 14 Claims. (Cl. 6291.5)

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for charging carbon dioxide into any desired container, drum or the like.

An important application of my invention relates to the charging of drums with liquid carbon dioxide.

, Another important phase of the invention relates to a system for transferring gaseous carbon dioxide from one tank to another in a desired manner. I

Various other advantages, characteristics and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the system, method, ap-

paratus, features and arrangement of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a charging system arranged in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a container closure 35 plate;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top of a container; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a container closure arrangement.

With respect to the specific form of the invention herein illustrated, it will appear, as hereinafter described in detail, that my novel system operates to charge drums with liquid carbon dioxide in a highly advantageous manner. The

usual compressor for accomplishing this end is eliminated and, in lieu thereof, a pressure differential is created, for example, by substantial lowering of the pressure in the drum whereby the liquid carbon dioxide automatically flows to the drum at a high rate of speed to thereby'quickly accomplish the filling operation.

For a clear understanding of one specific form of the invention, reference is-to be had to Fig. 1 wherein there is illustrated a pair of tanks, containers or converters T and TI such, for example, as illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,864,475. As herein shown, these tanks are of duplicate character and each is supported in vertical upright relation by suitable standards I. Each of said tanks comprises a curved lower section 2 terminating in a depending neck 3 threaded interiorly for the reception of suitable valve or closure mechanism A.

In the form of the invention herein shown, said valve or closure mechanism A comprises a nipple 4 externally threaded at both ends thereof. One end of this nipple 4 is threaded into the neck 3 while the other end thereof has a closure cap 5 threaded thereto, the cap 5 having a disk 6 of hard fibre, or equivalent, disposed interiorly there- 5 of. Just above the level of the disk 6, the side wall of the cap 5 has a plurality of spaced lateral passages 1 opening therethrough. Preferably, the upper part of the passage through the nipple 4 is tapered as shown so that impurities, scale 10 or the like from the interior of the container may readily reach the closure cap 5.

Each of the tanks T and TI, at the top thereof, comprises a flange 8 which is generally circular except for notches or recesses 9, 9a disposed, re- 15 spectively, at opposite diametric sides thereof. These notches define arcs of a circle having a substantially smaller radius than the adjacent arcs of a circle defined by the flange 8.

The inner lower surface of the flange 8 should 20 be plane and even for the reception in sealing relation with respect thereto of a suitable closure plate ID of the character illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This closure plate is generally circular except for oppositely disposed arcuate projections 25 II, Ila. The diameter d of said closure plate lll' should slightly exceed the diameter dl defined by the aforesaid flange 8, and each arcuate projection ll, Ila should define the arc of a circle somewhat greater in diameter'than that of a cir- 3o cleof which each notch 9 is an arc. On its upper surface, the closure plate l0 may carry an eyelet l2 to which, for manipulating purposes, a chain I 3 is secured. As clearly appears from Fig. 2, the closure plate, including the arcuate projec- 35 tions ll, Ila are peripherally flanged to define a vertical ledge section It against which a gasket I5 is seated.

Closely adjacent the top of each tank, the wall surface thereof is provided with a pair of in:- 40 ternally threaded openings for the reception of the threaded shanks of the respective valves V and VI As shown, the valves VI of the two tanks are connected together by a conduit I6.

Each of the tanks T and TI, closely adjacent 45 the interior surface thereof, is provided with a siphon tube H which communicates with a valve V and extends toward the bottom of the tank to a point just above the closure mechanism A.

In accordance with the invention, a pair of addi- 50 tional valves V2 and V3 are provided, the valve V2 having connected thereto a conduit I! which leads to the valve V of the tank T, said conduit l1 including a coil structure "a disp in Suitable heat-transferring relation with respect to the tank TI, said conduit I8 comprising a coil structure I 8a disposed in suitable heat-transferring relation with respect to the tank T.

The valves V2 and V3 are adapted to communicate alternately with a conduit I9 having a valve V4 included therein, said conduit I9, at a supplying station, communicating with a container, tank or drum D of the type well known-to the art for transporting carbon'dioxide in liquid and gaseous phase to drug stores, bottling establishments, and the like, such container, tank or drum being hereinafter generically termed a drum.

As hereinbcfore generally stated, a system of the character described is utilizable for charging drums D with liquid carbon dioxide without recourse to a compressor as heretofore generally practiced. To this end, the'system operates as follows;

Assuming that the closure plate In of the tank TI is removed therefrom, a suitable amount of solid carbon dioxide is introduced thereinto whereupon said closure plate I II is disposed in sealing relation with respect to said tank TI by moving the same axially, with its major axis disposed substantially vertical, through the opening defined by the flange 8 whereupon said closure plate is brought to horizontal position and seated against the lower surface of said flange 8 with the notches II, Ila underlying the respective recesses 9, 9a. When the closure plate I0 has thus been seated, it may temporarily be supported for a short time until the gas pressure interiorly of said container TI has built up sufliciently to positively hold the closure plate against its seat. After a suflicient period of time has elapsed, the solid carbon dioxide within the tank TI changes to the liquid and gaseous phase and, at this time, the pressure interiorly of the tank TI is extremely high. During this liquefying and gasifying operation, the valves V and VI of the tank TI remain closed.

There may now be introduced into the tank T a suitable partial charge, as 80% more or less, of solid carbon dioxide whereupon the closure plate III of the tank T is sealed in the same manner as described above with respect to the tank TI. With the valves V and VI of the tank T remaining closed, a suitable empty drum D may be connected to the conduit I9. Then, with the valve V2 closed and with the valves V4, V3 and the valve V of the tank TI open, liquid carbon dioxide passes from the tank TI by way of the therein-contained conduit I'I, valve V of said tank TI, conduit I8 including its coil structure I8a, valve V3 and thence to the drum D by way of the conduit I9 and valve V4. The tank T which has just been filled with solid carbon dioxide quickly assumes a very low temperature and, hence, the temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide, while passing through the coil structure I8a, is reduced to a substantial extent. In this low temperature condition, the liquid carbon dioxide passes into the drum D which, accordingly, takes a corresponding low temperature with resultant radical decrease of the pressure therein. The liquid carbon dioxide in the tank TI is under very high pressure and, therefore, a sharp pressure differential exists by reason of which the liquid carbon dioxide is caused to pass rapidly into the drum D and substantially fill the same in a brief time. At this time, the valve V4 may be closed and an empty drum substituted for the drum D which has just been filled whereupon the filling operation may be continued in the manner described above.

Eventually, the supply of liquid carbon dioxide in the tank TI becomes exhausted but the pressure therein remains high .due to the fact that said tank TI is still charged with carbon dioxide gas. Under these circumstances, the valve V of the tank TI is closed and the valves VI of the tanks T and TI are opened. At this time, change in phase of the solid carbon dioxide in the tank T has only started and, therefore, the

pressure in the tank T is low compared to that 4 in the tank TI. Accordingly, carbon dioxide gas readily passes from the tank TI to the tank T by way of the conduit I6, such carbon dioxide gas being cooled and, to great extent, liquefied by action thereon of the solid carbon dioxide in said tank T.

In a short time, a condition of pressure equilibrium is reached between the tanks T and TI. The liquid and gaseous contents of the tank TI have now been substantially exhausted and, therefore, 'the. closure cap 5 of the valve mechanism A may be removed from the nipple 4 and the tank TI opened to the atmosphere. This completes the operation.

The tank Tl, of course, still retains its charge of solid carbon dioxide and, further, said tank T contains the gaseous carbon dioxide which has been transferred thereto from the tank TI. The solid contents of the tank TI may now be allowed to change in phase until only carbon dioxide in the liquid and gaseous phase are in said tank T. At this time, the tank T is in the same condition as was the tank TI at the beginning of the operation described above. Accordingly, the above described operation may be re-.

peated by disposing a partial charge of solid carbon dioxide in the tank TI and sealing the same. Thereupon, with the valves V3 together with the valves V and VI of the tank TI closed, and with the valve V of the tank T together with the valves V2 and V4 open, it is obvious that liquid carbon dioxide from the tank T may be passed by way of the conduit I1, including its coil structure I'Ia, to the conduit I9 and thence to the drum D for the purpose of charging the same with liquid carbon dioxide.

. Usually, when the supply of liquid carbon dioxide in the tank TI becomes exhausted as stated above, the gaseous carbon dioxide in said tank TI, by reason of the high pressure, passes along the same path previously taken by the liquid carbon dioxide and, at the coil structure I8a or equivalent, is cooled so as to form liquid carbon dioxide which, in this form, is charged into a drum D. This continues until the pressure in the tank TI has been substantially reduced whereupon, if desired, a quantity of the remaining gaseous carbon dioxide may be transferred by way of the conduit I6 from the tank TI to the tank T in the general manner described above.

To recapitulate the more important features of the process as carried out upon solid carbon dioxide charged into tank T for example, the first step is to produce an exceedingly high pressure within the tank by change in phase of the carbon dioxide, and this step is expedited by heat slowly. In the illustrated apparatus such higher temperature medium is supplied through the coils I80. which surround tank T.

Another distinctive feature of the process is to subject the carbon dioxide (phase-changed as above described) to the action of a cooling medium on its way from tank T to drum D, to insure that the carbon dioxide enters drum D while in liquid phase. Thus it is insured that the pressure in drum D will be initially low, and by' reason of the high pressure obtaining in tank T the drum D may be quickly charged. In the illustrated form of the invention the above cooling step is performed by heat interchange between the carbon dioxide flowing from tank T through coils I la, and the carbon dioxide in tank Tl.

The initial step of artificially supplying heat to the solid carbon dioxide charged into tank T is an advantageous specific feature of the invention in its preferred form, and the subsequent step of cooling the carbon dioxide on its way from tank T to drum Dis highly important to the functioning of the main charging operation, for the reasons above stated.

It shall be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the utilization of tanks T and TI of the character herein illustrated and described. Obviously, in lieu of such tanks, any other suitable container may be utilized as desired.

It shall also be understood that my invention has been illustrated in a simplified though highly practical form. In practice, particularly for large scale operations, it may be desirable to substitute a plurality of tanks for each of the tanks T and TI herein disclosed. Variations of the invention, then, shall be understood as within the purview of the appended claims even though such variations involve the use of a greater number of tanks together with a modified form of conduit and cooling coil arrangement.

The cooling coils Fla and la are herein shown in a diagrammatic way. Obviously, these coils may be disposed either interiorly or exteriorly of the respective tanks and they may depart to substantial extent from the diagrammatic showing on the drawing.

The invention finds its most practical present application in a two-way system as disclosed. Under these circumstances, the tanks are used alternately as a source of supply and as a cooling arrangement. It shall be understood that the invention, broadly, is not to be limited in this manner since advantageous results are attainable even though alternate use of the tanks is not provided for.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred exam ple which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. The method of charging drums with liquid carbon dioxide, which comprises passing the liquid carbon dioxide to a drum along a path disposed in part at least in heat-transferring relation with respectto a body of solid carbon dioxide disposed in a tank, and thereafter passing the carbon dioxide in said tank to another drum.

2. The method of handling liquid carbon dioxide, which comprises passing the liquid carbon dioxide from a tank thereof along a path disposed in part at least in heat-transferring relation with respect to a body of solid carbon dioxide disposed in a second tank, and thereafter transferring gaseous carbon dioxide from said first named tank to said second named tank.

3. The method of handling liquid carbon dioxide, which comprises passing the liquid carbon dioxide from a tank thereof along a path disposed in part at least in heat-transferring relation with respect to a body of solid carbon dioxide disposed in a second tank, thereafter transferring gaseous carbon dioxide from said first,

named tank to said second named tank, and exhausting said first namedtank to the atmosphere.

4. In a system of the character described, a tank containing liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure, a conduit leading from said tank toa drum to be filled with liquid carbon dioxide, means for substantially lowering the temperature of said liquid carbon dioxide as it passes from said tank to said drum, and means for thereafter passing the gaseous carbon dioxide from said tank.

5. In a system of the character described, a tank containing liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure, a tank containing solid carbon'dioxide under low temperature conditions, a conduit leading from said first named tank to a drum to be filled with liquid carbon dioxide, said conduit including a coil disposed in heat-transferring relation with respect to the low temperature solid carbon dioxide in said second named tank, and means for subsequently passing carbon dioxide from said second named tank to another drum.

6. In a system of the character described, a

tank containing liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure, a tank containing solid carbon dioxide under low temperature conditions, a conduit leading from said first named tank to adrum tobe filled with liquid carbon dioxide, said conduit including a coil disposed in heat-transferring relation with respect to the low temperature solid carbon dioxide in said second named tank, and means for passing gaseous carbon dioxide from said first named tank to said second named tank.

7. In a system of the character described, a

plurality of tanks adapted alternately to contain liquid and solid carbon dioxide respectively, a station to which liquid carbon dioxide is to be supplied, and a conduit connection leading from said tanks tosaid station, said conduit connection comprising a conduit extending'from each tank and including a coil disposed in heat-transferring relation with respect to another tank.

8. In a system of the character described, a plurality of tanks adapted alternately to contain liquid and solid carbon dioxide respectively, a device to which liquid carbon dioxide is to be supplied, a conduit connection leading from said tanks to said device, said conduit connection comprising a conduit communicating with each tank and including a coil disposed in heat-transferring relation with respect to another tank, and a valve-controlled conduit connection between said tanks.

9. The method of handling a material which normally exists in a gaseous state throughout the normal range of pressure and temperature changes of the atmosphere, said method com prising providing a source of said material in a liquid state and a source of said material in a solid state, depleting the first source of its liquid by directing the latter in a stream in heat exchange relation to said material in the solid state to liquefy the same and create a pressure differential in said stream to promote the flow thereof, replenishing the first mentioned source with a charge of said material in a solid state and depleting the second mentioned source of its liquefied material by directing the latter in a stream in heat exchange relation to the solid material in the first mentioned source.

10. A method such as described-in claim!) which comprises the condensing of gaseous material remaining in the first mentioned source after the depletion of its liquid material by bringing said gaseous material into contact with the material in the second mentioned source before the replenishing charge is placed in the first mentioned source.

- 11. A method for charging a container with liquid carbon dioxide, which comprises passing liquid carbon dioxide at high pressure from one converter into heat exchange relationship with solid carbon dioxide contained in another freshly filled converter, and then into said container.

12. 'In the art of charging a sealed drum of the type utilizable for transporting carbon dioxide in liquid and gaseous phase to drug stores, bottling establishments and the like, the steps. which consist in introducing solid carbon dioxide into a tank, sealing said tank, developing a high pressure within said tank and expediting change in phase of the solid carbon dioxide by exchange of heat between the low temperature solid carbon dioxide and the resulting liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide on the one hand and a higher temtempature medium other than the surrounding air on the other hand, passing the resultant phase-changed material from the tank to the drumand maintaining the temperature of such phase-changed material within a range sufliciently low to cause the material to be in the liquid phase as it enters said drum, and using the high pressure developed in said tank by said higher temperature medium for preserving a pressure differential between the tank and drum at a value such as to cause the drum to be subresultant phase-changed carbon dioxide from the tank to the drum, and cooling the phase-changed carbon dioxide on its way from the tank to the drum to insure that the carbon dioxide enters the drum while in liquid phase, and using the high pressure developed in said tank by said higher temperature medium for preserving a pressure diiferential between the tank and drum at a value such as to cause the drum to be substantially filled so that it contains liquid andgaseous carbon dioxide. 7

14. The method of charging carbon dioxide into a sealed drum of the type utilizable for transporting carbon dioxide in liquid and gaseous phase to drug stores, bottling establishments and the like, which includes introducing solid carbon dioxide into a tank, sealing said tank, developing a high pressure within said tank in response to change in phase of the solid carbon dioxide, passing material as changed in phase from the tank as gaseous carbon dioxide, cooling the gaseous carbon dioxide so that it forms liquid carbon dioxide and thereafter passing the liquid carbon dioxide into said drum, and using the high pressure developed in said tank for preserving a pressure difierential between the tank and drum at a value such as to cause the drum to be substantially filled so that it contains liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide.

- HARRY B. RUDD. 

